(25-01-2018 04:40 PM)Szuchow Wrote: Neo-nazis can be found almost everywhere I suppose but finding them in Poland just beggars belief. Perhaps it shouldn't, though as even during war not all Poles were averse to helping nazis - szmalcownicy are good example.

szmalcownicy

I had to google that...suppose it shouldn't have surprised me- the almighty lust for the dollar. "...word used during World War II that denoted a person blackmailing Jews who were hiding, or blackmailing Poles who protected Jews during the Nazi occupation." (Wiki)

(25-01-2018 04:40 PM)Szuchow Wrote: Neo-nazis can be found almost everywhere I suppose but finding them in Poland just beggars belief. Perhaps it shouldn't, though as even during war not all Poles were averse to helping nazis - szmalcownicy are good example.

szmalcownicy

I had to google that...suppose it shouldn't have surprised me- the almighty lust for the dollar. "...word used during World War II that denoted a person blackmailing Jews who were hiding, or blackmailing Poles who protected Jews during the Nazi occupation." (Wiki)

Let's just say that number of them wasn't low. Or screw that, I will also add that number of Polish Righteous Among the Nations preferred their deeds remaining secret. Not from humbleness but to be safe from neighbors who took dim view of saving Jews. Having these facts in mind perhaps I shouldn't be as surprised as I am that neo nazis exist in today Poland.

The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.

It has been over 70 years since the end of WWII when it seemed that the Allied victory over the Third Reich marked the end of Nazism in Europe. But unfortunately, this is far from the case. Currently, European countries face increasingly spreading ultra-right sentiment. Recently, the world has been shocked to learn about a celebration organized by a Polish Pride and Modernity neo-Nazi group in honor of Hitler's birthday. Reporters of Polish TV news channel TVN24 were horrified by the gruesome sight: participants of the event were dressed in Wehrmacht military clothing; they gathered to the sound of Nazi military marches and toasted to Adolf Hitler helping themselves to cakes with symbols of the Third Reich.

The event caused a major stir among the general public. The country's authorities strongly criticized the activities of the organization propagating Nazism. But still there were some who sided with Polish neo-Nazis. The main support came from the expected direction. A member of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and ex-leader of the Right Sector nationalist organization Dmitro Yarosh published on his facebook page a post to defend his colleagues from Poland. He urged nationalists of both countries to join in the fight against common foreign and domestic enemies. 'Our cultural and ideological proximity should become a unifying factor in the normalization of relations between countries at the official level. This would allow us to take a further step towards an impending victory over our common centuries-old enemy.

And it is a Ukrainian MP that makes such statements. This is the man who is directly involved in shaping the country's foreign and domestic policy. The spread of Nazism has reached unprecedented levels both in Poland and Ukraine. Polish Nazis violate monuments to those who have laid down their lives in the fight against Hitler. Now Ukrainian radicals who, in fact, seized power in the country during the 2014 Maidan revolution, are actively involved in glorification of Ukrainian nationalist leaders, I mean, those criminals, who specialized in large-scale killing of civilians during WWII.

It is a fallacy to think that the spread of ultra-right sentiment occurs only in Ukraine and Poland. It is safe to say that neo-Nazism is becoming a general European trend. Although the use of Nazi symbols is banned in many European countries, norms, values, ideas and goals of this subculture become a global phenomenon with a growing number of its disciples. Throughout Europe, pro-Fascist and Nazi gangs are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. The far rightists turn into the dominant political force and their influence only keeps growing. They have seats in parliaments and are even members of ruling coalitions. For instance, an outright Nazi party Jobbik that is known for its support for the establishment of concentration camps for Hungarian Gypsies is quite a force among other parties in Hungary's parliament. And this is not the only instance. The entire Europe has been swept by a wave of nationalism. The same applies to Latvian All for Latvia! nationalist party that is known to glorify Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS, Sweden Democrats advocating for limited resettlement from non-European countries to the territory of Sweden, as well as, German far-right party Alternative for Germany and Greek ultra-nationalist party Golden Dawn also known for their radical views. This list can be extended indefinitely.

Nazism has become a large-scale phenomenon. The tendency is increasing, which risks worsening the situation. Instead of fighting this scourge facing Europe, European politicians are only limited to verbal condemnation, without taking any decisive action. European countries' position on the matter is clearly illustrated by the vote on annually adopted resolution against glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other forms of discriminatory practices. Every year, most EU Member States abstain from voting on this resolution. Europeans, it seems, have absolutely forgotten about the scale of the tragedy that occurred during WWII when millions of innocent people were killed. It is difficult to imagine possible implications for Europe if what Mr. Yarosh calls Europeans for actually happens; and representatives of numerous radical parties will really find a way to unify. There are all conditions for it. Every year, ultras create closer cooperation with each other, which can lead to the formation of the strongest political force in Europe. We, Europeans, need to look at history, recall the mistakes of our predecessors and prevent the further spread of radical ideas in our countries.

It has been over 70 years since the end of WWII when it seemed that the Allied victory over the Third Reich marked the end of Nazism in Europe. But unfortunately, this is far from the case. Currently, European countries face increasingly spreading ultra-right sentiment. Recently, the world has been shocked to learn about a celebration organized by a Polish Pride and Modernity neo-Nazi group in honor of Hitler's birthday. Reporters of Polish TV news channel TVN24 were horrified by the gruesome sight: participants of the event were dressed in Wehrmacht military clothing; they gathered to the sound of Nazi military marches and toasted to Adolf Hitler helping themselves to cakes with symbols of the Third Reich.

The event caused a major stir among the general public. The country's authorities strongly criticized the activities of the organization propagating Nazism. But still there were some who sided with Polish neo-Nazis. The main support came from the expected direction. A member of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and ex-leader of the Right Sector nationalist organization Dmitro Yarosh published on his facebook page a post to defend his colleagues from Poland. He urged nationalists of both countries to join in the fight against common foreign and domestic enemies. 'Our cultural and ideological proximity should become a unifying factor in the normalization of relations between countries at the official level. This would allow us to take a further step towards an impending victory over our common centuries-old enemy.

And it is a Ukrainian MP that makes such statements. This is the man who is directly involved in shaping the country's foreign and domestic policy. The spread of Nazism has reached unprecedented levels both in Poland and Ukraine. Polish Nazis violate monuments to those who have laid down their lives in the fight against Hitler. Now Ukrainian radicals who, in fact, seized power in the country during the 2014 Maidan revolution, are actively involved in glorification of Ukrainian nationalist leaders, I mean, those criminals, who specialized in large-scale killing of civilians during WWII.

It is a fallacy to think that the spread of ultra-right sentiment occurs only in Ukraine and Poland. It is safe to say that neo-Nazism is becoming a general European trend. Although the use of Nazi symbols is banned in many European countries, norms, values, ideas and goals of this subculture become a global phenomenon with a growing number of its disciples. Throughout Europe, pro-Fascist and Nazi gangs are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. The far rightists turn into the dominant political force and their influence only keeps growing. They have seats in parliaments and are even members of ruling coalitions. For instance, an outright Nazi party Jobbik that is known for its support for the establishment of concentration camps for Hungarian Gypsies is quite a force among other parties in Hungary's parliament. And this is not the only instance. The entire Europe has been swept by a wave of nationalism. The same applies to Latvian All for Latvia! nationalist party that is known to glorify Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS, Sweden Democrats advocating for limited resettlement from non-European countries to the territory of Sweden, as well as, German far-right party Alternative for Germany and Greek ultra-nationalist party Golden Dawn also known for their radical views. This list can be extended indefinitely.

Nazism has become a large-scale phenomenon. The tendency is increasing, which risks worsening the situation. Instead of fighting this scourge facing Europe, European politicians are only limited to verbal condemnation, without taking any decisive action. European countries' position on the matter is clearly illustrated by the vote on annually adopted resolution against glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other forms of discriminatory practices. Every year, most EU Member States abstain from voting on this resolution. Europeans, it seems, have absolutely forgotten about the scale of the tragedy that occurred during WWII when millions of innocent people were killed. It is difficult to imagine possible implications for Europe if what Mr. Yarosh calls Europeans for actually happens; and representatives of numerous radical parties will really find a way to unify. There are all conditions for it. Every year, ultras create closer cooperation with each other, which can lead to the formation of the strongest political force in Europe. We, Europeans, need to look at history, recall the mistakes of our predecessors and prevent the further spread of radical ideas in our countries.